By Staff Reporter
KHORIXAS – Minister of Trade and Industry, Calle Schlettwein, is satisfied that the first ever Khorixas Expo’s focus is on agriculture and tourism.
“Agriculture is very important, both for our national food security and for production of tradable goods for the domestic and export markets. The agriculture sector is also the largest employer in our country. Therefore with appropriate policies, programmes and incentives we should be able to feed ourselves, develop industries, create employment and income opportunities, and alleviate poverty among our people,” said Schlettwein when he opened the Khorixas Agricultural and Tourism Expo on Monday morning. The expo ends this week Saturday, 28 June.
“We would all agree that the government has done a lot to facilitate diversification of the tourism industry including mainstreaming the local communities in this development. Today we have conservancy programmes across the country, which benefits the historically disadvantaged local communities. Namibia’s policies and strategies for nature conservation and environmental management for sustainable development have gained world applause and we should build on this commendable achievement,” said Schlettwein.
Schlettwein told exhibitors, traders and visitors that the Khorixas Expo is a “perfect platform” for exposure, learning, engaging and forging supportive partnerships.
Schlettwein added that the entire concept of trade fairs or expos is a very important one, in that it not only enhances trade but also orientates government officials, as policy makers and consumers alike, on the development and potential in the economy. He said it is from such exposure that government gets to know more of who producers are and what they produce, what their needs are to be able to grow and prosper, and what other potential there is in the various sectors to be explored and exploited to the benefit of Namibians.
“Our people need jobs, they need incomes, food, education, good health and to enjoy other economic and social benefits. Therefore we need to create wealth and distribute it equitably. The creation of wealth is a shared responsibility of government and the private sector – whether they are big, medium or small enterprises they are all important to the growth of the economy and the creation of wealth,” said Schlettwein.
He also noted that the Kunene Region, where Khorixas is situated, is endowed with some of the very important raw materials for value addition such as dimension stones, semi-precious stones and hides and skins from animals and game, just to mention a few.
Large quantities of these materials however do not reach commercial channels in Namibia for processing as they are either leaving the country in blocs or as livestock-on-hoof or raw hides and skins, or are simply wasted in most of the communal areas. “Why should we find ourselves in this sad and unconscionable situation when our local jewellery makers and tanneries are struggling to obtain sufficient production inputs in order to operate at full capacity and create more jobs? Tanneries are forced to import hides and skins from as far as Europe and South America. We need to turn this situation around,” said Schlettwein.